Sheet feeding and slitting machine with strip feeding device



Feb. 9, 1954 w. P. WINTERS SHEET FEEDING AND SLITTING MACHINE WITH STRIP FEEDING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 24, 1951 W/LL/AM 1 W/NTEPS j flag. w qam N A 7 Toe/v57. T

Feb. 9, 1954 w p wm s 2,668,591

SHEET FEEDI NG AND SLITTING MACHINE WITH STRIP FEEDING DEVICE Filed May 24, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb 9, 1954 w. P. WINTERS E SHEET FEEDING AND SLITTING MACHINE WITH STRIP FEEDING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 24, 1951 INVENTOR.

lV/ZZ/AM f? W/NTERS flTTOE/VEYS Feb. 4 w. P. WINTERS ,668, 9

SHEET FEEDING AND SLITTING MACHINE WITH STRIP FEEDING DEVICE Filed May 24, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 mmsfroi 1 104 1. MM R rv/n/rfes Patented Feb. 9, 1954 UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE SHEET FEEDING AND SLITTING MACHINE WITH STRIP FEEDING DEVICE Application May 24, 1951, Serial No. 227,971

(Cl. 1G461) 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to machines for feeding sheets or blanks in a plurality of directions at an angle to each other such as machines for cutting or slitting sheets of material into a plurality of strips or blanks and. has particular reference to devices for receiving strips or blanks traveling in one direction and further advancing the strips or blanks in a different direction in spaced and timed order.

In the manufacture of cans or containers, sheet material such as tin plate for metallic containers and fibre material for fibre containers, are cut into strips or blanks to be subsequently formed into container bodies or other container parts. Cutting of such material into strips or blanks preferably is effected by slitting rollers which merely slit the material without leaving any space between adjacent blanks. Where further feeding of the severed blanks by engagement with their newly cut edges is desired, such as by transversely disposed conveyor having feed dogs, difficulty is sometimes encountered because of the lack of space between the blanks, such as overlapping, skipping or double feeding of blanks.

The instant invention contemplates overcoming this difliculty by the provision of devices which receive and locate the blanks with their severed edges in stepped relation and which move the thus related blanks in sequence toward a feeding device for engagement in succession and advancement in timed and spaced order.

An object of the invention is the provision of such a feeding device for a slitting machine wherein the severed blanks are presented for advancement in such a manner that the skipping of a blank by the feeding devices or the feeding of double blanks is prevented.

Another object is the provision of such feeding devices wherein scratching or other marring of coated or lithographed blanks caused by the blanks riding on the feed dogs of the feeding devices is greatly minimized.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a slitting machine embodying the instant invention, with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken substantially along the broken line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken substan tially along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2, with parts broken aw y;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail taken substantially I along the line 44 in Fig. 2, with parts broken away; and

Figs. 5 to 11 inclusive are schematic views of principal parts of the feeding device in the machine showing various stages in the spaced and orderly advancement of a plurality of unspaced blanks produced by slitting a sheet of material.

As a, preferred or exemplary, embodiment of the invention, the drawings illustrate the principal parts of a tandem slitting machine of the type disclosed in United States Patent 2,335,079 issued August 8, 1944 to L. L. Jones on Sheet blitting Machine; In such a machine metal sheets A (Fig. 1) of substantially rectangular configuration are conveyed longitudinally of the machine by a primary conveyor B and are trimmed and initially cut or slit into a plurality of smaller strips or blanks. The drawings show three such strips C, D, E although the primary sheets may be cut into any number of strips depending upon the width desired.

The strips C, D, E as initially cut, with substantially no spaces between their cut edges, are received on a feeding device or lowerator F which locates the strips at different elevations with their newly severed edges in stepped relation. While the strips are in this stepped relation the feeding device F lowers them successively into the path of travel of a transversely disposed auxiliary conveyor G which picks off each strip C, D, E as it is presented to the conveyor and carries it in spaced and timed relation to the other picked off strips, along a path of travel at right angles to the path of travel of the primary sheet A. The auxiliary conveyor G advances the strips C, D, E for cutting transversely into smaller portions preferably to produce individual can body blanks or other container parts.

The primary sheets A enter the machine preferably in processional and timed order on the conveyor B from any suitable source of supply and are supported in a substantially horizontal position on support rails 2| (Fig. 1) carried in a frame 22 which is part of the main frame of the machine. Side guide rails 23 supported on the frame 22 guide the sheets A.

The conveyor B preferably is an endless chain provided with spaced feed dogs for engaging behind the primary sheets A and for advancing them, as shown in the Jones Patent 2,355,079 above mentioned. The conveyor preferably is continuously operated by a sprocket 25 (Fig. 1) which is mounted on a sprocket shaft 26 journaled in bearings formed in the frame 22. The sprocket shaft 26 is rotated by an endless chain rality of idler sprockets -bearing bracket 63 each side of the '21 which operates over three sprockets, a s rocket sprocket shaft 26 (see also Fig. 2) and a driving sprocket 32 on a rotor shaft 83 of an electric motor 34 which preferably constitutes the driving power for the machine.

The conveyor B advances the primary sheets A into the grip of co-operating upper and lower slitting rollers 36, 31. The lower rollers 31 are mounted on and rotate with the slitter shaft 3|. The upper rollers 36 are mounted on and rotate with a slitter shaft 38 disposed above and in parallelism with'the slitter shaft 3|. This upper slitter shaft 38 is journaled in bearings formed in the frame 22. The two slitter shafts 3|, 38 are rotated in unison through meshing spur gears 4| 42 mounted respectively on the outer ends of the shafts.

As the primary sheets of the slitting rollers 36, the advancement of the through and simultaneously slit the sheets alon lines of severance 44 (Fig. 1) to produce the strips C, D, E. Since the severing of the sheets into strips is a slitting operation, no spaces are produced between the strips along the lines of severance 44. As the strips slitting rollers the newly slit edges of the strips are in substantially abutting relation.

The cut strips C, D, E as they are discharged from the slitting rollers 36,31 extend out into space and fail horizontally vice Fin a position above the auxiliary conveyor G. The auxiliary conveyor G is disposed transversely of the discharge path of travel of the strips C, D, E, i. e. at right angles to the path of travel of the sheet or primary conveyorIB.

The auxiliary conveyor G preferably is an endless chain having auxilia feed dogs 46 (Figs. 2 and 8) secured thereto atspaced intervals. The chain extends longitudinally of an auxiliary 31, the rollers continue of the frame 22, the chain operating over a plu- 48 and a main drivin sprocket 43. The idler sprockets 48 are mounted on short shafts Journaled in bearing brackets secured to the auxiliary frame 41. The driving sprocket 43 is mounted on and keyed to a transverse auxiliary conveyor shaft 54 iournaled at its ends in bearings 55 formed in the auxiliary frame 41.

The auxiliary conveyor shaft 54 is continuously rotated by an endless chain 56 which operates over a sprocket 51 (Figs. 1 and 2) on the shaft 54, an idler sprocket 58 on a short shaft 53 in bearings on the auxiliary frame 41, and a sprocket 6| on a jack shaft 62 journaled in a (see also Fig. 3) secured to the frame 22 adjacent the electric motor 34. The-jack shaft 62 is rotated by a bevel gear 65 which is carried on the shaft and which meshes with and is driven by a bevel gear 68 mounted on the rotor shaft 33 of the electric motor 34.

The feeding device or lowerator F is disposed in vertical alignment with and his}; begiwnthg dischar e th of travel of'the s r ps as they le se the slitting rollers 38, 31. This feeding device includes a horizontally disposed platform or table 1| (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) comprising a pair of spaced and parallel vertical side plates 12 extending parallel with and disposed one on auxiliary conveyor G (see Fig.

1). Each side plate 12 is formed with a plurality main .A are fed into the grip of inwardly extending, transversely and vertically aligned flanges or flights disposed at diflerent levels and arranged in parallelism with the conveyor G and in descending stepped order from sheets and feed them C, D, E leave the upon the feedin dethe highest level at the left (as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2) to the lowest level at the right. The drawings show three pairs of these flights or'portions, a pair of hi h flights 13 for receiving the strips C, a pair of intermediate flights 14 for receiving the strips D, and a pair of low flights 16 for receiving the strips E. These flights are located respectively in alignment with the discharge paths of travel of the strips C, D, E.

The side plates 12 of the platform 1| are carried on pivot pins 1'! of a pair of parallelogram arms 18 mounted on a pair of spaced and parallel transverse shafts 13 carried in bearing brackets 81 secured to the auxiliary frame 41. Each parallelogram arm 18 is formed with a crank arm 82. The two crank arms 82 are connected together by a link 83. One of the shafts 19 carries a lever 84 which is connected by a link 85 to an eccentric ring 86 which surrounds an eccentric 81 (see also Fig. 4) secured to and rotating with the auxiliary conveyor shaft 54.

Hence as the auxiliary conveyor shaft 54 rotates, it actuates the auxiliary conveyor G and the eccentric 81 in timed relation and through the cranks 82 and parallelogram arms 18 raises and lowers the platform 1| in time with-the advancement of the auxiliary feed dogs 46, the parallelogram arms 18 keeping the platform substantially horizontal and in parallelism with the conveyor G at all times. raises the platform 1| to the top of its stroke, in which position all of the flights 13, 14, 15 of the platform are above the auxiliary conveyor G, the lowest flight 15 being just slightly above the conveyor as shown in Fig. 11. platform 1| is momentarily in this position, Just before it starts to move downwardly on a feeding stroke, the strips C, D, E are discharged from the slitting rollers 36, 31 and fall into place on their respective flights as hereinbefore mentioned.

The feeding of the primary sheets A by the conveyor 13 into the slitting rollers 36, 31 is effected in time with the other moving parts of the machine through the chain connections hereinbefore described to effect this timing of the discharge of the strips when the platform 11 is at its highest level. The strips C, D, E

are guided endwise during this falling action onto the platform flights 13,14, 15 by upright guide plates 8|. 32 (Figs. 1 and 3) formed integrally with strip support plates 83, 84 secured to the auxiliary frame 41 These support plates 83, 34 support the ends of the strips as best shown in Fig. 3. i

As soon as the strips C, D, E are received on their respective flights 13, 1'4, 15 the platform 1| begins to descend. The lowest flight 15 immediately moves down below the top of the auxiliary conveyor G a sufllcient amount to lower the strip E onto the conveyor in front of one of the feed dogs 46 as shown in Fig. 5. Because of the timed relation of'the platform 1| and the conveyor G the feed dog 46 is in position closely adjacent the back edge of the gages behind 'the strip and advances it with the conveyor as shown in Fig. 6 without disturbing the other strips C, D. I

The eccentric 81 first While the While the strip E is thus being advanced .to create a space between it and the preceding strip D, the continued descent of the platform H lowers the strip D into position on the auxiliary conveyor G entirely clear of'the advancing strip E and immediately in front of the next feed dog 46 on the conveyor as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. When the platform descends far enough to locate the intermediate flight 14 below the conveyor G and leave the strip on the conveyor the feed dog engages behind this strip D and advances it with the conveyor in the same manner as the first strip E. Thus the two strips D, E are spaced in timed order and are advanced in sequence by the conveyor.

In the'same manner as just explained, continued descent of the platform 'H moves the highest flight 13 below the top of the conveyor G and deposits the strip C on the conveyor in front of the next feed dog 46. This feed dog 46 engages behind the strip C and thus locates it in spaced relation to the strip D and advances it with the conveyor and the other two strips D, E as shown in Fig. 8. Thus in this manner all of the strips are individually removed in sequence from the platform II and are located in spaced and timed order and advanced in a procession.

With the removal of the strip C from the highest flight !3 of the platform II, the platform is in its lowermost position of its descent as shown in Fig. 8, the eccentric 81 having completed one half of its cycle of operation or rotation. During its second half cycle or rotation, the eccentric 81 elevates the platform H through a return stroke, thus successively lifting the flights 13, M, 15 above the top of the auxiliary conveyor G through the stages shown in Figs. 9 and 10 until the platform is fully elevated with all flights above the conveyor for the reception of another batch of strips C, D, E as shown in Fig. 11. This completes the cycle of "operation of the platform H.

As hereinbefore mentioned, the purpose of separating the strips C, D, E and advancing them in spaced and timed order is to perform a subsequent slitting operationupon them individually. For this purpose, the conveyor G advances each strip in timed order into the grip of a set of upper and lower second operation or auxiliary slitting rollers 96, 91. As the strips C, D, E pass between these rollers in timed order they are slit transversely into blanks from which can bodies or other container parts are made. The slit blanks as they leave the rollers are discharged to any suitable place of deposit.

The upper second operation slitter rolls 96 are carried on and rotate with a transverse shaft 98, the ends of which are journaled in bearings 99 formed in the auxiliary frame 41. The lower second operation slitter rollers 01 are carried on and rotate with a transverse shaft I! journaled in bearings similar to the bearings 99. The two shafts 98, IM are rotated in unison by meshing spur gears I02 mounted on the shafts as in the Jones patent hereinbefore mentioned. The lower shaft MI is driven by an endless chain I03 which operates over a sprocket I04 on the shaft IN and over a sprocket I05 on the auxiliary conveyor shaft 54. Thus the slitter rollers 96, 91 are driven in time with the other moving parts of the machine.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form,

construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the-spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form herelnbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a machine for feeding sheet material in directions at an angle to each other, the combination of a conveyor, actuating means for adsuccession for the advancement'of said strips by said conveyor from said platform in sequence and in spaced and timed order.

2. In a machine for slitting sheet material, the combination of a conveyor, actuating means for advancing said conveyor, a plurality of feed dogs on said conveyor in spaced order, a platform disposed adjacent said conveyor, aid platform having a plurality of flights disposed at different levels and located above said conveyor, means for feeding a strip of sheet material into position on each of said platform nights, and means for lowering said platform toward said conveyor in time with the advancement of said feed dogs to align each of said flights with said conveyor in succession for the advancement of said strips by said conveyor from said platform in sequence and in spaced and timed order.

3. In a machine for slitting sheet material, the combination of a conveyor, actuating means for advancing said conveyor, a plurality of feed dogs on said conveyor'in spaced order, a platform disposed adiacent said conveyor, said platform having a plurality of flights disposed at different levels and located above said conveyor, means for feeding a strip of sheet material into position on each of said platform flights, means for lowering said platform toward said conveyor in time with the advancement of said feed dogs to align each of said flights with said conveyor in succession for the advancement of said strips by said conveyor from said platform in sequence and in spaced and timed order, and means for maintaining said flights in substantial parallelism with said conveyor during the travel of said platform.

4. In a machine for slitting sheet material, the combination of a conveyor, actuating means for advancing said conveyor, a plurality of feed dogs on said conveyor in spaced order, a platform disposed adjacent said conveyor, said platform having a plurality of flights disposed at different levels and located above said conveyor, means for feeding a strip of sheet material into position on each of said platform flights, and an eccentric connected with said platform for lowering said platform toward said conveyor in time with the advancement of said feed dogs to align each of said flights with said conveyor in succession for access:

on said conveyor in paced order, a platform dis- 1 posed adjacent said conveyor, said platform having a plurality of flights disposed at different levels and located above said conveyor, means for feeding a strip ofsheet material into position on each of said platform flights, a pair of parallelogram arms pivotally connected to and supporting said platform in a horizontal position with its flights parallel to said conveyor, and means for rocking said parallelogram arms in unison to lower said platform toward said conveyor in time with the' advancement 'of said feed dogs to align each of said flights with said conveyor in succession for the advancement of said strips by said conveyor from said platform in sequence and in spaced and timed order.

6. In a machine for transferring cut strips received in close horizontally spaced relation from one set of sheet slitting rolls, to another set of singularly disposed slitting rolls for cutting blanks from said strips, the combination of a conveyor having spaced feed dogs thereon disposed 8 4 between said roll sets, means for advancing said conveyor, a vertically movable platform having a plurality of vertically spaced flights thereon disposed above said conveyor, means for feeding closely horizontally juxtaposed cut strips from said one set of slitting rolls to said vertically spaced platform nights respectively, and means for lowering said platform toward said conveyor in time'with the advancement of said feed dogs to align each of said flights with said conveyor in succession for the selective advancement of said strips by said conveyor from said platform to said another set of slitting rolls in sequence and in spaced and timed order. a

. WILLIAM P. WINTERS.

mm Cited in the file of this patent 'ourrnn sums PATEN'I'S Name Date Jones Aug. 8, 1944 Diesel May 22, 1951 Number 

